Waterproof case in particular to sea water opening by mere pressure on two opposite points

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a waterproof case, in particular to sea water, opening by mere pressure on two opposite points, consisting of a flattened wallet ( 1 ) preferably made in one single piece of synthetic material and comprising on the inner face of the opening edges ( 5, 6 ) at least a compressible bonded or sealed joint ( 7 ) pressed against the second joint ( 8 ) or the opposite edge so as to make it absolutely waterproof when no pressure is exerted, the walls of the device being arranged such that pressure on the side ends of these edges causes them to move apart thus providing access inside the device. The invention is useful for the protection of various objects, such as coins, bank notes, keys, identity papers again water, perspiration, sand, dust and the like.

[0001] The object of the present invention is a waterproof case, inparticular to sea water, opening by mere pressure on two oppositepoints.

[0002] It has the object of protecting various objects, such as coins,bank notes, keys, identity papers against water, perspiration, sand,dust, and the like.

[0003] It is adapted in particular for swimmers and allows them to keeptheir objects of value on them while they engage in nautical activities,such as swimming, diving, windsurfing, or others.

[0004] A certain number of devices adapted to protect objects againstsea water currently exist. In particular, belts comprising one or aplurality of waterproof compartments are known, but they are relativelyexpensive and cumbersome systems, use of which can become generalizedonly with difficulty.

[0005] French Patents No. 2 513 864 and 2 517 183, filed by theApplicant, refer to a flattened flexible waterproof case comprising onone of its faces a cutout into which a rigid cover fits due to a groovearranged either on periphery of this cutout, or on the periphery of thecover.

[0006] The necessity of having to insert the cover into the groove ofthe case, or the edges of the cutout into that of the cover makes theoperations of opening and closing difficult, and the cover may be lost.

[0007] Moreover, since this type of device is adapted especially for useon the beach, there is a risk of grains of sand becoming lodged in thegrooves, compromising the waterproofness of the unit.

[0008] The object of the device according to present invention is toovercome this situation by enabling the realization of an absolutelywaterproof case with a relatively low manufacturing cost which may beplaced in the pocket, hung around the neck, or attached to any clothingbase, to enable the user not to be separated from his money or paperswhile swimming.

[0009] It is constituted of a flattened wallet made preferably in onesingle piece of synthetic material, and comprising on the inner face ofthe opening edges at least one compressible bonded or sealed jointpressed against the second joint or against the opposite edge so as tomake the wallet absolutely waterproof when no pressure is exerted on it,the walls of the device being arranged such that pressure on the sideends of these edges causes them to move apart permitting access insidethe device.

[0010] In the attached drawings, provided by way of nonrestrictiveexamples of embodiments of the object of the invention:

[0011]FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the open and closed case respectively inaxonometric projection,

[0012]FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse cross-section along the arrowsA-A′ of FIG. 2,

[0013]FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged cross-section depicting a casecomprising longitudinally grooved waterproof joints,

[0014]FIG. 5 depicts, under the same conditions, a case equipped withsteel strips adapted to increase the closing pressure,

[0015]FIG. 6 depicts a partial enlarged cross-section showing a casecomprising waterproof joints according to a geometry adapted to producea sucking effect between the two opening edges,

[0016] and FIG. 7 depicts a partial enlarged cross-section showing acase comprising a locking system adapted to interlock the two openingedges.

[0017] The device, FIGS. 1 through 7, is constituted of a case 1 forminga flattened wallet with a generally rectangular shape, closed on threesides 2, 3, 4 and of which the edges 5, 6 of the fourth side can bebrought together to ensure a waterproof closing or moved apart to enablefilling or emptying the wallet.

[0018] The case 1 is made of a semi-rigid or flexible material andarranged such that the edges 5, 6 press against each other when no forceis exerted (FIG. 1), with pressure applied according to the arrows P-P′on the side ends of these edges causing their deformation in a circulararch and sufficient spreading to enable access to the contents of thedevice (FIG. 2).

[0019] The latter is preferably made in one single piece in a sea waterresistant material, such as a synthetic material injection molded orthermoformed by blowing, or produced by any other technique making itpossible to obtain the same result.

[0020] At least one of the inner faces of the edges 5, 6 of the fourthside is covered by a compressible joint 7, 8 made, for example, of anelastomer foam, predetermined such that the case is absolutelywaterproof at rest, when no pressure is exerted on the side ends of theedges.

[0021] The joint or joints 7, 8 can be affixed by gluing, or by heatsealing at the time of fabrication of the case 1. They can have arectangular section or have a longitudinally grooved inner surface,which can improve the waterproofness of the system (FIG. 4).

[0022] In order to have sufficient rigidity to guarantee thewaterproofness of the unit, the edges 5, 6 may advantageously have agreater thickness than that of the walls 9, 10 of the wallet 1.

[0023] According to a variant embodiment, the closing force is obtaineddue to steel strips 11, 12 incorporated into the walls 9, 10 of the case1, for example, between these walls and the waterproof joints 7, 8. Thisarrangement enables using a flexible material for the fabrication of thewallet (FIG. 5).

[0024] A loop 13, through which a belt can pass in order to affix thecase at the waist, may be provided on one of the outer faces of thedevice (FIG. 3). Similarly, the sides of the wallet may comprise eyelets14 capable of accommodating a cord or a chain running around the neck orenabling hanging the case 1 (FIG. 1).

[0025] According to a variant embodiment, the force for maintaining theclosing is obtained due to the use of a locking system 15, which servesto interlock the two opening edges of the wallet (FIG. 7).

[0026] Due to its simplicity, its ease-of-use, and its low cost, thedevice just described lends itself particularly well to achieving awallet or a card-holder which may be used in all places and under allcircumstances, and in particular on the beach.

[0027] The positioning of the various constituent elements gives theobject of the invention a maximum of useful effects which have not beenpreviously obtained by similar devices.

1. Waterproof case, in particular to sea water, opening by mere pressureon two opposite points, adapted in particular for swimmers and havingthe object of protecting various objects, such as coins, bank notes,keys, identity papers against water, perspiration, sand, dust, and thelike, characterized by the combination of a case (1) comprising, on theinner face of at least one of the opening edges (5, 6), a compressiblebonded or sealed joint (7, 8) which is pressed against the opposite edgeor against the second joint so as to make said case absolutelywaterproof when no pressure is exerted, the walls of the device beingarranged such that pressure on the side ends of said edges causes themto move apart providing access inside the device.
 2. Waterproof caseaccording to claim 1 , characterized in that it is made in one singlepiece of a sea water resistant material.
 3. Waterproof case according toeither one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made ofa synthetic material injection molded or thermoformed by blowing. 4.Waterproof case according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the opening edges (5, 6) have a thickness greaterthan that of the walls (9, 10) of said case.
 5. Waterproof caseaccording to any one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that theclosing force is obtained through steel strips (11, 12) incorporatedbetween the walls (9, 10) of said case and the joints (7, 8). 6.Waterproof case according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the joint or joints (7, 8) have a hollow geometryenabling the creation of a sucking effect.
 7. Waterproof case accordingto any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint orjoints (7, 8) are made of an elastomer foam affixed by gluing or heatsealing.
 8. Waterproof case according to any one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that one of the outer faces of said case isprovided with a loop (13) through which a belt may pass.
 9. Waterproofcase according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatits sides comprise eyelets (14) capable of accommodating a cord or achain which passes around the neck or enables hanging said case. 10.Waterproof case according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that a locking system (15) enables interlocking the twoopening edges.